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Amphibious Encyclopedia · Amphibious cars

Hydra Spyder

The Hydra Spyder is an American four-seat amphibious sports car powered by a Chevrolet Corvette V8, built in small numbers by Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI) of South Carolina since the mid-2000s [1][3][5]. On water its wheels retract into the body and a jet drives it [4][7].

  • Amphibious cars
  • 2005 to present (built to order)
  • United States

History

Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI) was founded in 1999 by inventor John Giljam and his wife, Julie [3]. Before the Hydra Spyder, Giljam had built amphibious buses at a factory in Rochester, New York, and an amphibious luxury motorhome [3]. Engadget reported the Hydra Spyder in September 2005 as a custom car priced at $155,000 that took six months to build and could tow a water skier [5]. Wikipedia gives 2006 as the start of production [7].

In October 2006 the Associated Press described a lemon-yellow prototype, built at CAMI's factory in Ridgeland, South Carolina, and tested off a dock in Bluffton [3]. It had been sold for $175,000 to a buyer whose name was protected by a nondisclosure agreement [3]. Production has stayed small. The Truth About Cars reported in 2021 that a 2008 car offered for sale in Missouri was one of six built for that model year [6]. CAMI, now based in Bluffton, still lists the Hydra Spyder alongside its Hydra-Terra amphibious tour bus and Terra Wind amphibious motorcoach [1][2].

Design and how it works

CAMI lists a Corvette LS2 6.0 liter V8 rated at 400 hp at 6,000 rpm and 400 lb-ft (542 N·m) of torque, with a five-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels through a 3.73 to 1 axle ratio [1][4]. Other figures appear for later cars. The Truth About Cars describes a 2008 car with a 6.2 liter LS3 V8 of 450 hp, and Wikipedia gives 500 hp for the standard model [6][7].

The lower hull is made of 5052 aluminum alloy plate and the upper body of fiberglass [1][4]. The hull cavities are filled with flotation foam, which Machine Design described as approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for amphibious vehicles, and CAMI calls its amphibians unsinkable [2][4][7]. The suspension is a retractable independent system with air-ride height control [4].

In the water, a dashboard control retracts the wheels into the body, and a Berkeley marine jet with power trim drives the car [4][7]. CAMI claims a water speed of 46 knots (53 mph, 85 km/h) and more than 125 mph (201 km/h) on land in road tests [1]. The car weighs about 3,300 lb (1,500 kg) and seats four [1][4]. The Associated Press reported fuel economy of about 16 to 18 mpg (13 to 15 L/100 km) on land [3].

Sources

  1. Hydra Spyder Amphibious Vehicle, Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI). camillc.com/hydra-spyder
  2. Discover Amphibious Vehicles, Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI). camillc.com
  3. Amphibious Hydra Spyder breaks ground by going fast on water, The Seattle Times (Associated Press, Todd Lewan) (2006-10-27). archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20061027/hydraspyder27/amphibious-hydra-spyder-breaks-ground-by-going-fast-on-water
  4. Cruising in an Amphibious Vehicle, Machine Design (2006-10-12). www.machinedesign.com/news/article/21817156/cruising-in-an-amphibious-vehicle
  5. Take to the water in the Hydra Spyder amphibious car, Engadget (Marc Perton) (2005-09-14). www.engadget.com/2005-09-14-take-to-the-water-in-the-hydra-spyder-amphibious-car.html
  6. Rare Rides: The 2008 Cool Hydra Spyder, a Stylish Boat Car for the Discerning, The Truth About Cars (Corey Lewis) (2021-05-17). www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/05/rare-rides-the-2008-cool-hydra-spyder-a-stylish-boat-car-for-the-discerning
  7. Hydra Spyder, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_Spyder

Last reviewed November 2026. Spotted something to correct or add? Tell us and include a source.

About the Amphibious Encyclopedia

WaterCar has designed and built amphibious vehicles in Southern California for more than 25 years. We keep this encyclopedia so anyone curious about vehicles that cross between land and water has one place to start, with the sources listed for every fact.

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